Apply Online
Schedule a Call

Author name: Ricky Vasquez

Existing-home sales decline, marking worst April since 2009

Affordable housing, Housing markets, Mortgage Rates /

U.S. sales of previously owned homes unexpectedly dropped in April to the slowest pace in seven months, restrained by ongoing affordability constraints and highlighting a lackluster start to the key Spring selling season. Contract closings decreased 0.5% to an annualized rate of 4 million, according to National Association of Realtors data released Thursday. That fell […]

Existing-home sales decline, marking worst April since 2009 Read More »

Non QM reaps benefits from policy, market discipline: execs

Non QM reaps benefits from policy, market discipline: execs

LOAN PRODUCTS, Mortgage Bankers Association, Originations, Secondary markets /

Frin left to right: Moderator Devin Norales, and panelists Max Slyusarchuk, Jeremy Schneider, Peter Simon and Rudy Orman address the audience at the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Secondary and Capital Markets Conference in New York on May 19, 2025. Politics, marketing and organic growth within the borrowing public are providing momentum to non-qualified mortgage businesses, leading

Non QM reaps benefits from policy, market discipline: execs Read More »

State Farm’s added California rate hike request gets pushback

California, Property and casualty insurance, Regulation and compliance /

State Farm is going back to California’s regulator for a higher homeowners rate increase. One week after State Farm General, the California division of the State Farm parent company, won approval from California insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara for a 17% emergency rate increase, effective June 1, it amended its previous increase request. State Farm General

State Farm’s added California rate hike request gets pushback Read More »

Thinking about an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage? Read This First.

Thinking about an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage? Read This First.

For Buyers, Mortgage Rates /

If you’ve been house hunting lately, you’ve probably felt the sting of today’s mortgage rates. And it’s because of those rates and rising home prices that many homebuyers are starting to explore other types of loans to make the numbers work. And one option that’s gaining popularity? Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs). If you remember the crash

Thinking about an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage? Read This First. Read More »

Bringing origination and servicing together with AI 

Artificial Intelligence, Contributors, HWmember, Mortgage, Opinion, Origination, Servicing /

The mortgage industry has undergone significant changes over the past few decades. One of the most notable has been the separation of origination from servicing. This decoupling was initially driven by the desire for greater efficiency, specialization and the need to respond to growing regulatory and market pressures. However, recent technological advances, especially in artificial

Bringing origination and servicing together with AI  Read More »

Narrative collapse: Ethics, antitrust, and the real estate reckoning

Agent, Brokerage, Contributors, HWmember, Opinion, Real Estate /

The American real estate industry is collapsing under the weight of its own unresolved contradictions. With a housing market now showing unmistakable signs of sustained decline— plummeting affordability, rising rates, historic commission lawsuits, and consumer disillusionment—there is no bailout coming this time. The lessons of 2008 have not prevented history from rhyming. This time, though,

Narrative collapse: Ethics, antitrust, and the real estate reckoning Read More »

Updated list of all Trump’s actions that impact housing

CFPB, Donald Trump, FHFA, Housing Market, HUD, HWmember, Politics, Regulatory /

Below is a timeline of the actions the Trump administration or Congressional Republicans have taken that impact housing since President Trump took office on Jan. 20, 2025, along with additional coverage of those topics. CFPB Tariffs HUD HUD watchdog swept up in large-scale firings of inspector general  Jan. 27 Memo mixup: Trump calls for freeze

Updated list of all Trump’s actions that impact housing Read More »

Appraisal Institute fires executive accused of sexual misconduct

Appraisal Institute, Appraisal Regulation Compliance Council, Appraisals, Appraisals and Valuations, HWmember /

The Appraisal Institute (AI) executive facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct is no longer serving in his position. AI president Paula Konikoff announced on the trade group’s LinkedIn page Wednesday evening that Craig Steinley has been removed as AI’s vice president, stating that its board of directors “determined it was no longer tenable” for Steinley

Appraisal Institute fires executive accused of sexual misconduct Read More »

Trump floats a public offering for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac

Politics and policy, Secondary markets /

President Donald Trump said Wednesday evening that he was giving “very serious consideration to bringing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public” after more than a decade of being under government oversight. “Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are doing very well, throwing off a lot of CASH, and the time would seem to be right,” Trump

Trump floats a public offering for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Read More »

Trump says he’s giving “serious consideration” to releasing Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac

Bill Pulte, Conservatorship, Donald Trump, FHFA, GSE Reform, GSEs, HWmember, Mortgage, Politics, Regulatory /

Two days after Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte said any decision over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac exiting government conservatorship would be up to President Trump and Trump alone, the president has weighed in. In a message posted on Truth Social Wednesday night, Trump said “I am giving serious consideration to bringing

Trump says he’s giving “serious consideration” to releasing Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Read More »